Lauching into a New Year of Promising Partnerships!

The year is off to a great start and we are proud to introduce our 12 Ypsilanti Public School District (YPSD) K-12 Partnership teams for the 2008-09 academic year:

Ypsilanti High School Faculty Affiliate
University of Michigan Graduate Student Teaching Fellow

1. Max Mullins, Chemistry Instructor
Serge Badiane, Aerospace Engineering, Doctoral Student

2. Thomas Ambrose, Chemistry Instructor
Amanda Brecht, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, Doctoral Student

3. Hans Sowder , Biology and Environmental Studies Instructor
Monisha Brown, Environmental Engineering, Doctoral Student

4. Sarah Papke, Biology Instructor
Erik Yusko , Biomedical Engineering, Doctoral Student

5. Kathleen Hardy, Biology and Astronomy Instructor
Tamara Tucker, Cellular & Molecular Biology, Doctoral Student

6. Tu-Anh Tran, Mathematics Instructor
Steven Hoffenson, Mechanical Engineering, Doctoral Student

7. Molly Porter, Mathematics Instructor
Azarias Reda , Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Doctoral Student

8. James Tuttle, Mathematics Instructor
Benjamin Reedlunn, Mechanical Engineering, Doctoral Student

9. Tybe Mills, Mathematics Instructor
Kiana Stringfield, Industrial and Operations Engineering, Masters Student

10. George Lancaster, Mathematics Instructor
Michael McDonald, Aerospace Engineering, Doctoral Student

11. Steve MacGregor, Mathematics Instructor
Julianna Evans, Mechanical Engineering, Doctoral Student

12. Doriane Colwell, Mathematics Instructor
Eric Jankowski, Chemical Engineering, Doctoral Student

Additionally, we are pleased to announce Rachel Phillips pioneering a new partnership with University Prep Science and Math Middle School (http://www.uprep.com/sciencemath.html) located in Detroit, MI.

Greg Dombro, Detroit Preparatory Academy
Rachel Philips, Industrial and Operations Engineering, Masters Student

The teams were created at our “TF-FA Pairing Event” and were formed by loosely applying the speed dating concept. From this event, we were able to get some great alliterative nicknames during introductions which are featured on the photos of our partners.

(click on photo to enlarge)

(click on photo to enlarge)

Please share in the many experiences within our partnership by reading our assortment of entries on our University of Michigan Teaching Fellows Blog, which can be accessed in the links section of this blog.

Paper presentation and Workshop conducted at ASEE

Lorelle Meadows, Joy Oguntebi, Carol Cramer and I traveled together to the 2008 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference and Exposition, held in June in Pittsburgh, PA.

We conducted a 3-hour workshop entitled "How to Build a Long-Term University-K-12 Partnership". Results from input will be posted by the end of this month.

We also presented a paper, AC2008-2868: "Engineering Graduate Students: engaging Today's Teachers, Training Tomorrow's Scientists and Engineers, and Opening New Academic and Career Paths for K-12 Students". Early results and data from the year-long pilot partnership evaluation were reported during this presentation.

From Pilot to Perpetuity!

U-M CoE and Ypsilanti Public School District Partners celebrated the completion of the first pilot year with a gala event on Thursday, April 17th. Following dinner at the Quarter Bistro, presentations on accomplishments for the year were made by Carol Cramer, Joy Oguntebi and Angela Dixon.

Carol presented the group with a report on the Parent Learning Community, and Joy and Angela followed with reports on the Teaching Fellows’ and Undergraduate Volunteer Tutors’ activities. Before closing the evening, several individuals reflected on the year with short stories they shared with the group. Some of those stories are captured here.

Our theme for the evening, “Reflecting on remarkable partners and launching from pilot to perpetuity,” says it all. We look forward to sharing the results of this first year’s survey data and related program evaluation, due mid-summer.

In the meantime, here are some excerpts from the gala:

“Another step in the right direction. Another move to help kids reach their potential. Another semester of learning together. Another year of progress. The seeds we plant today will become the mighty trees of tomorrow. Thanks for all of your hard work.”

“This is a great program. I think that [U-M] research advisors need to be made more aware of the time required to fully participate in this program.”


“[My teacher partner] was always readily available to help me with ideas and concepts and it was obvious she has a passion for teaching and concern for the welfare of her students! It was a pleasure working with her and I learned so much from her!”

“Teaching the students about design, and getting them to build bridges, was a true cooperative effort between me and the partner teacher. Seeing the students give each other hugs as their bridges held the load was awesome!”


“This semester was extremely rewarding and gratifying. The opportunity to not only teach but also mentor many of the students has given me a sense of purpose and personal satisfaction. Helping students better understand the subject and gain more interest in learning have been my most important contributions to the classroom. There is not a better feeling than seeing a student recognize their true potential and commit themselves to achieving at a higher level.”

“It has been wonderful watching and taking part in this phenomenal program. The program started small but has grown to a multi-faceted inter-generational network of parents, students from 9th grade to the PhD – as well as administrators and staff! There is no limit to what can be done when vision meets commitment. When heads, hearts and hands come together, and when sacrifice meets bright minds, transformation happens. …The best is yet to come.”

“The K-12 partnership has truly been a blessing to the students and staff of Ypsilanti High School. Thank you for your support!”

Thanks to all for a great year!

NSBE and (OE)^2 Co-Host YHS students at Florida Conference

Ashley McLeod, a UM CoE senior, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Peer Advisor, and National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Vice President, recently reported on the outcomes from our sponsorship of two Ypsilanti High School (YHS) students who attended the annual NSBE national conference this year in Florida.

To deepen students’ understanding of engineering, future opportunities and expose them to life outside of their normal boundaries, NSBE Chapter volunteers host high school students who apply to attend the annual event. YHS students Michael Horgow and James Taylor traveled with NSBE volunteers to this year’s conference, and are now in the process of trying to establish a NSBE jr. chapter at the school. The students wrote essays to describe the experience and their renewed motivation to achieve (click on their names to read the essays).

Ashley McLeod is happy to answer any questions our readers might have. Just click on her name to email her.

(OE)^2 Participates in Final MLK Luncheon Panel

On April 3rd, (OE)^2's Jill Andrews participated in a panel discussion, "Preventing the Pipeline from Leaking." Pictured here are panelists (L-R) CoE / SoE Professor Elliot Soloway, Jill Andrews, Richard Hill (graduate student, Mechanical Engineering), CoE Professor Perry Samson, and Aaron Santos (Research Fellow, Chemical Engineering). Moderator Eric Jankowski is on the far right (Jankowski will participate in the (OE)^2 Teaching Fellows program in the Fall 08 Term). The luncheon was the fourth and final in the 10th Annual MLK Luncheon series sponsored by The College of Engineering and Tau Beta Pi (engineering honor society). Panelists explored issues of significance to U-M students, staff and faculty with a focus on STEM education.

K-12 Partnership Announcements for April, 2008

Teaching Fellow Recruitment Presentation: Thursday, April 3, 2008 in IOE 1680, from 5pm – 6:30pm

We seek graduate students in engineering and science who want to partner with area K-12 teachers by serving as Teaching Fellows in a structured, joint program, commencing in the Fall 2008. If you want to make a difference in your community -- gain teaching experience -- and improve your chances of getting a great academic appointment when you graduate -- then this program is for you!

The number of historically underrepresented minorities in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields is dismally low. The College of Engineering (CoE) has taken a new approach to address this issue by partnering with area K-12 schools to increase the pipeline and open pathways to STEM options for K-12 students. The program has received tremendous support by the College and the University and has been widely publicized through presentations and publications by Michigan’s leaders.

As a Teaching Fellow, you will develop mentoring relationships with high school students and contribute time, knowledge, and energy to the classroom to increase student understanding, appreciation, and interest in STEM topics. In return, you will gain valuable teaching experience and learn pedagogy from master teachers and education professionals.

The program compensates TFs according to individual financial need.

Come to the Teaching Fellow Information Session on Thursday, April 3 in IOE 1680 from 5pm – 6:30pm!

We will begin promptly at 5pm and a delicious dinner will be served.

You’ll find out more about the partnership and how you can be involved!

Please RSVP to attend the information session. This will enable us to make adequate preparations (food, seats, packets).

Please RSVP by email to Joy Oguntebi at ogunjoy@umich.edu
We hope to see you there! Please invite other engineering and science graduate students you think might be interested!
If you are unable to attend the information session but would like more information on the partnership, contact Joy Oguntebi at ogunjoy@umich.edu.

Additional Upcoming events!

Parent Learning Community meeting (Tuesday, April 8, 7pm) – The Ypsilanti Public Schools Parent Learning Community cohort will be touring North Campus. Afterward, they will share a pizza dinner with undergraduate and graduate teaching fellows, who will talk about their experiences in engineering research.

Design Expo (Thursday, April 10, 1-3pm) – We are bringing a busload of Ypsilanti high school students to the Design Expo (here on North Campus).

Tutor/TF/Student End of Year Celebration at Ypsilanti HS (Tuesday, April 15, 3-4 pm) – During regular tutoring time. Tutors and Teaching Fellows will celebrate with the students and reflect on semester achievements.

"Bilal’s Stand" movie screening (Tuesday, April 15, 7pm) – Tutors, Teachers, Parents, Teaching Fellows and students in their classrooms are invited to attend an (OE)^2-sponsored free screening of this Michigan-produced film.

And…
Special Thanks to Diane, Casey, Brandon, Tiberius, Steven, and Angela, who attended the Motivation & Methods workshop and roundtable last week. The workshop presentation and related readings are now on the CTools webpage. Most of the documents are related to motivation, which many Teaching Fellows have cited as an area of concern.

Ten Graduate Students this term at Ypsilanti

The Ypsilanti Public School District Partnership now has 10 participating graduate student TAs – five are returning and five are new to the program. Returning TAs include Obi Ezekoye, Diane Peters, Casey Diekman, Tiberius Moran-Lopez and Jamie Perryman. Click here to read about our returning students.

Our new TAs bring unique skill sets to the program, and we briefly describe them here.

Serge Badiane looks forward to "the possibility of inspiring young men and women to aspire to great things in their lives." This project, he says, offers the perfect opportunity of giving back and gaining the necessary experience to someday do the same for the youth of his country, Senegal. Serge's expertise spans many topics, including Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Engineering, with a special focus on Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. He is pursuing his PhD at UM CoE in Aerospace Engineering.

Steven Hoffenson wants to be a teacher in his future career, and sees this program as a way to work with secondary students while attending graduate school. "I want the satisfaction of helping young students learn and prepare for stronger futures," he says. "I can also learn new techniques through experience; I see this as a hands-on learning experience for teaching." Steven's undergraduate degree is in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is pursuing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at UM CoE. "I love to teach, and I someday hope to teach as a part of my profession. Over the past three years, I have held teaching positions and done other activities with middle school and high school students, and I reallly enjoy the satisfaction I get from helping them." Steven will be working with teachers of Physics and Mathematics.

Brandon Lucas is in his final year as a PhD candidate in Applied Physics at UM CoE. "I believe this program serves a critical role in the effort to increase the number of underrepresented minorities obtaining degrees in the STEM fields," says Brandon. "This program perfectly aligns with my belief that students must be identified early and given the fundamental coursework that will make them admissible into STEM degree programs." Brandon will be focusing on helping teach physics and mathematics this term.

Rachel Phillips worked on her Mechanical Engineering undergraduate degree at Oklahoma State University while also volunteering as a tutor in mathematics. Previously, she volunteered for FIRST Robotics in New Jersey as lead marketing and Public Relations mentor at local high schools. "I love working with students and teaching mathematics," she says, "and this partnership will be a great opportunity for me to do both." Her expertise is in mathematics, and she is currently in the Master's program for Industrial and Operations Engineering at UM CoE.

Azarias Reda recognizes the significant influence that his high school teachers had in getting him interested in science, innovation and research. "I would like to do the same for other high school students," he says. "I especially look forward to becoming an encouragement to other students like me." His expertise is in Mathematics and Physics. Azarias obtained his undergraduate degree from Sterling College in Kansas, and is pursuing his PhD at UM CoE in Computer Science and Engineering.